A hat adorned with the name and squadron of a deceased American Volunteer Group member rests on a decorative A-10C Thunderbolt II engine cover during the 75th Anniversary Flying Tiger Reunion, March 10, 2017, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. In 1941, President Roosevelt signed an executive order forming the American Volunteer Group. The AVG was organized into the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Pursuit Squadrons and later disbanded and replaced by the 23d Fighter Group in 1942. Under the command of Gen. Claire Chennault, the Flying Tigers comprised of the 74th, 75th, and 76th Pursuit Squadrons defended China against the Japanese. Throughout World War II, the Flying Tigers achieved combat success and flew the US-made Curtiss P-40 Warhawks painted with the shark-mouth design. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins)
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